Eminente unveils second Gran Reserva rum

Moët Hennessy-owned Eminente has introduced its second 10-year-old Cuban rum: Gran Reserva Edition N°2.

Gran Reserva Edition N°2 has been aged for 10 years and features a four month finish in Sauternes wine casks. It follows on from the October 2023 release of Edition N°1, which explored a finish in French oak barrels. As he did for the first edition, Eminente master distiller César Martí aged a combination of aguardientes in a dry cellar. Described by Martí as the “most qualitative and interesting aguardientes that have been well-preserved in the centre of Cuba over the years”, the liquid – made from molasses distilled to 75% ABV – was then blended and aged again with a light Cuban rum distilled to 95% ABV. The conditions of a dry cellar meant water evaporated quicker than the alcohol, so the final ABV for Edition N°2 is 43.2%, noted by the brand as higher than usual for a Cuban rum. While ageing was initially done in white oak barrels that previously held whisky, the liquid was moved to Sauternes wine casks for a final six months, which has given the rum a ‘distinctive aromatic profile’. On the nose, drinkers will find aromas of honey, apricots and tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple, which are followed by subtle hints of caramel and vanilla from the Sauternes casks. The palate then integrates notes of candied fruits and apricot with spices and woody accents. The finish is described as a 'long, silky and elegant’, with a sweetness imparted from the Sauternes alongside the spicy character typical of a Cuban aged rum. Eminente also emphasises consuming the rum with gourmet food pairings such as foie gras and blue cheese, or a dish like grilled salmon where the smokiness of the fish complements the spirit’s tropical and floral notes. Edition N°2 retails for £79 (US$104). Representing Cuban rum Martí, who is recognised as Cuba’s youngest maestro ronero (the name used for a master rum distiller), unveiled the Gran Reserva Edition N°2 to an audience in London last week having made the trip over from Cuba. He described the expression as “an exotic trip to the aromas of the countryside in Cuba”. He said: “In Eminente Gran Reserva Edition N°2, there is a liquid that brings together all of our knowledge and work, and that comes from our heart. For us, Cuba has the best rum in the world and it is a temple.” Martí has a background in chemical science and holds a PhD specialised in the interaction between wood and eaux-de-vie. He is said to treat rum in the same way as an oenologist might with wine due to this background, which has resulted in his experimentation with the Gran Reserva rums. While Edition N°1 explored French oak as a finish, and Edition N°2 with Sauternes casks, Martí confirmed that there will be more finishes for Gran Reserva in the future. Eminente, founded in 2020, hails from the central part of Cuba. Whereas the east of the island may produce sweeter, more aromatic rums with lots of complexity, and the west with drier rums that work well in cocktails, Martí is looking to create a product that meets both styles. “We need to understand rum as a flavour of our identity,” he said during the Gran Reserva Edition N°2 launch. “It's an authentic expression of our culture and we need to feel the flavours that are a representation of how diverse the Cuban people are and how diverse the country is. “Reserva [the brand’s flagship rum, aged for seven years] and Ambar Claro [a lighter three-year-old rum] have had great success, so we're going to create more products with different sweetness, complexity and aromas – and to really represent all kinds of Cuban rum.” At the London launch, Martí also highlighted Eminente’s bottle, which takes after the skin of a crocodile – the animal that the shape of the island of Cuba is said to resemble. “When you have it in your hand, we want the bottle to transmit something important,” he said. “We wanted to pay tribute to the wild side of Cuba, but also speak to the care we have of the Cuban climate, the Cuban soil and the biodiversity of Cuba. The labels are recycled from a textile factory, the cork is also recycled from oak and the back label could be like a ticket. “It could be a train or a plane ticket, but it's taking you on a journey to Cuba, hopefully through the flavour. It also has a little message from me and the number of the bottling.” Eminente is part of LVMH’s wine and spirits division, Moët Hennessy, which also includes Volcan de mi Tierra Tequila, Belvedere vodka, Scotch whiskies Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, and Hennessy Cognac.